Ammunition-receptacle



I. S. PEOPLES. AMMUNITION RECEPT/ICLEI i APPLICATION FILED AUG.K6. I9l8.

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Patented June 15, 1920.

l WWW@ J. S. PEOPLES. AMNIUNITION RCEPTACLE.

Patented June 15, 1920.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

J. S. PEOPLES.

AMMUNITION RECEPTACLE.

vAPPLICATION FILED Aue.6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED sTA'rss JOHN S. PEOPLES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLMBI.

AMMUNITIon-REGEPTACLE.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patent-,Qd June 15,1920,

Appliation filed August e, 1918. serial No. 248,644.

(FILED UNDER THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1883, 22ISTAT Il., G25.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it'knownv that I, JOHN S. PEorLEs, captain,'ordnance, N. A., a Vcitizen of the United States, stationed at Washingtom D. O., at the Engineering Division, Oflice of the Chief Vof Ordnance, have invented an Improvement in Ammunition-Receptacles, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government or any of its oficers or employees in prosecution of work for the Goverment, o r by any other perf son in the United States, without'payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention generically relates to special receptacles for ammunition; more speciicallyit comprehends anV improved safety device for transporting Vcartridges for machine gunl use.

In the prevailing methods it has been customary to transport'the cartridges in ordinary packing cases to the supply depot, where they are unpacked and placedin the belts by suitable cartridge iilling machines. I'hese kbelts are thenrdeposited in portable cases,"and vconveyed to machine guns. Not infrequently, as thefbelt is taken to its des-y tination, the container is subjected to considerable jolting, `due 'to the shock of'burst-` ing shells, and lthe uneven character of the terrain, which 'disp'laces the cartridges 'and results 'in jamming of lthe `machi`ne gun, when the belt withv empty pockets is fed to the gun.

Obviously, vexclusive of 4the annoyance, danger v-and delay vincidental to the vabsence of one' or morecartridges from the belt,the manifold stages through which "the 'cartridges pass before attaining theirultimate destination, Vasv well as the machines,'""opera tors and time required 'at each 'stage are objectionable.

vOne of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to overcome the precedingdisadvantageous "features,by providing a simple device, capableof positively maintaining the'cartridgesin their proper position inthe belt, to eliminate the intermediate stages Vof Vli-llir1gand transferring lthe Vcarf tridges from one 'container to 'another by employing :ontainers and belts, which after the initialloadin'g at the manufacturing plant, are conveyed` directly to themachine gun without being 'further disturbed.` Handling the cartridges in this manner conserves time, and permits the man power necessary to the operation of the filling machines at the ammunition base to be utilized for other purposes.A

Another important phase of this invention is the locking device, securing the car- Bridges against accidental displacement, this device being constructed to enable quantity production at a comparatively nominal manufacturing cost.

Other points of this invention are the production of a container having dimensions, admitting of convenient handling for transportation purposes; -means for Vsecurely binding the cartridges to prevent their becoming loose by virtue of jolts and the like,

as well as topermit ready removal from the container when needed.

I With these and other objects in view, my lnvention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement'- Fig. 5 is a top plan view,'th' e cover of the container being removed', andillustrating a Vmodified form ofV locking plate Fig. 6 is 'an illustration of the modified locking plate (asshownin Figr) removed i from the container:

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of the locking plate (illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6):

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of afurther modified form, parts being broken away illustrating the construction yof the "locking plate andk arrangementV ofV belt and carT tridges in the container; l f

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the modified form shown in Fig. 8. a portion of the cover being brokenlaway, illustratingthe ribbed formation of the locking plate,

Briefly stated, this invention comprisesa Vpolygonal or circular cont'ainer'of'metalory other suitable material, a perforated plate fitting the cartridge necks and spacing elements off setting the plate so that it will bear against the edge of the belt and force the latter firmly on to the cartridge.

In the illustrated embodiment characterized by Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, there is shown a rectangular container 1, preferably of metal, with dimensions suiiicient to readily house a cartridge belt- 2, with its transversely extending cartridges 3. p

Unless precautionary measures are taken, constant jarring ofthe containerV actuate's the belt toward the necks of the cartridges. F orthis reason, a rectangular, metallic follow plate 4, with perforations 5, is fitted within the container and interposed between the edge of the cartridge belt and one of its side walls with the cartridges projecting through the perforations.

The lateral edges of follow plate 4 are turned inwardly, while its intermediate portion is transversely crimped at predetermined intervals,.to formribs 6, functioning as spacing elements. The outer edge of ribs 6,-abutting against the inner surface of the side wall of the container, forces the plate against the edge of the cartridge belt, and firmly presses the latter on to the cartridges. As previously stated, spacing ribs 6 may be formed integral with the plate, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, though any construction will suffice, provided plate 4 may be of-setjto exert sufficient pressure upon the edge of the cartridge belt to prevent its becoming disengaged from the cartridges. A binding'strap .7 of any suit-able material is bound around :the cartridges 3, and sealed as at 8 to insure its securement. Strap 7 materially assists vinmaintaining the belt and cartridges incompact formation.

To protect the base of the cartridges, a soft padding 9 of rubber or other yieldable material is interposed between said base and the adjacent inner surface of thecontainer.

Padding 9 forces the cartridges, and incipositioned with its inner surface overlying Y the inner surface of the container, the spaclng ribs 6 projecting outwardly so as to engage theedge of the belt. In this form,

the spacing ribs 6 are much closer together and more numerous to increase the number` respects, this construction is similar to that previously described. 4

In the exemplification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown acircular container 11, embodying base 12, vertical wall 13 and cap 14.- The cap 14 is vprovided .with an offset flange 15, to embrace'thepouter edge of the vertical wall 13, as clearly shown in- Fig. 8. 'Ihe `dimensions of this container are sufhcientto readily house the cartridge belt 2 and its cartridges 3. Cartridge belt 2 bound, in rolled formation by strap7, is deposited within the container, as shownv in Fig. 8. p Y To meet the foregoing alterations, a circular plate 4, having perforations 5is interposed within the container between theupper edge of the beltand thel inner surface of the .cap,14, the necks of the cartridges, as in the other, constructions, projecting through theperforations of Ythe plate, so that it may engage the edgev of lthebelt.

Radially extending spacing ribs 6 offset the plate from the inner surface of the cap, ef-

ing plate 4 inv securement of the cartridges.

InV regardto strap 7 acting asa binder, it

Y is to be notedthat the free end of this strap is sealed, as at 8,

for reasons hereinbefore stated.

tion provides a containerv of simple` construction, which, after serving its'purpose, may be discarded; affords effective means for positively maintaining the cartridges in their proper position .in the belt, and' insuresaproperly loaded belt beingfedto the machine gun. i V

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

of lrubber or= otheru similar c 11o f In conclusion, it will be seen thisl inven- 1. In an ammunition receptacle, the com bination vwith `a`.containerdesigned to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt, of meanswithin the container and'cconcommodate a cartridge `filled ammunition belt; of means within the container andenbination with a containerV designed to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt; of means coperating with the belt, to.

hold the latter firmly upon the cartridges, substantially as described.

4L. In an ammunition receptacle; the combination With a container designed to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt; of means Within the container, coperating With one edge of the belt, to urge the latter firmly upon the cartridges substantially as described.

5. In an ammunition receptacle, the combination With a containerV designed to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt; of means disposed Within thecontainer in offset relation With respect to one of its Walls, and coperating with one edge of the belt', to hold the latter firmly upon the carriages, substantially as described. p

6. In an ammunition receptacle, the combination With a container disposed to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt; of va follows7 plate situated'within and offset from one Wall-of the container, saidplate coperating With one edge of the belt to Wedge the latter firmlyV upon the lcartridges. l Y

7. In an ammunition receptacle, the com- -bination with a container disposed to accommodate a cartridge filled ammunition belt; of a'perforated follow plate situated Within the container, the necks of the cartridges projecting through the perforations therein, and means offsetting the Vplate from one Wall of the container toforce said plate into engagement With an edge `of the`belt,' substantially as described.

8. In an ammunitionreceptacle, the combinationgwlth a container disposed to accommodate'y a cartridge filled ammunitionV belt; of a perforated'plate situated Withink the container, the necks of the cartridges projectingV through perforations therein; rearwardly extending spacing ribs offsetting the plate from one Wall of the container to vhold said plate in coperative relation With an edge of the belt, substantially as described. y

9. In an ammunition receptacle, the combination with a container designed to foldably accommodate a cartridge lled ammunition belt, and a binder to maintain the samefin compact formation; of detachable means Within the container effecting positive securement of the cartridges and their belt; substantially as described."

10. bination With .a container designed to foldably accommodate a cartridge filled belt, and a binder surrounding the cartridges to hold the same in -compact* formation; of a perforated plate situated kWithin the con- In an ammunition receptacle Lthe comtainer, the necks of the cartridges projectcoperative relation With an edge of the JOHN 1s; PEoPLEs. 

